AfriPulse
From Bimbola Oyesola, Geneva
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken its battle over workers’ rights to the global stage, formally reporting the Nigerian government to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for alleged violations of Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.
Addressing delegates at the ongoing 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accused authorities at both federal and state levels of engaging in a sustained pattern of intimidation, interference and anti-union practices that undermine workers’ fundamental rights.
Ajaero told the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) that Nigeria was failing to meet its obligations under Articles 1, 2 and 4 of Convention No. 98, which guarantees the independence of workers’ organisations and protects them from discrimination and interference.
According to him, the violations are not isolated incidents but part of a wider and persistent assault on trade union freedoms across the country.
“What is happening in Nigeria is a cancer that has become malignant, with pustules everywhere—in Edo, Rivers and Lagos—and it is growing,” Ajaero declared, urging the committee to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.
Ajaero recalled the violent attack he suffered in November 2023 while leading a trade union mission to Imo State aimed at securing the implementation of a negotiated collective agreement covering pension arrears, unpaid salaries, allowances and alleged harassment of workers.
He lamented that nearly three years after the incident, no meaningful investigation or prosecution had taken place despite assurances from relevant authorities.
“Such impunity sends a chilling message to workers and trade union representatives throughout Nigeria and undermines the protection guaranteed under Article 1 of Convention No. 98,” he said.
In another allegation, Ajaero told delegates that trade union leaders in Osun State were recently shown graphic images of his battered and bloodied body by state agents as a warning against pursuing legitimate industrial actions.
He argued that the incident reflected a broader pattern of intimidation documented by both the NLC and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), including harassment of union leaders, interference in union elections, deployment of security operatives during strikes and restrictions on the operations of workers’ organisations.
“These actions constitute clear violations of Articles 1 and 2 of Convention No. 98 and undermine the obligations established under Article 4, which promotes genuine collective bargaining,” he told the committee.
Ajaero further explained that the ILO Committee of Experts had repeatedly sought information from the Nigerian government concerning several of the allegations but had yet to receive adequate responses or evidence of effective remedial action.
“As it stands, internal mechanisms for redress have failed, necessitating external intervention,” he stated.
The labour leader urged the committee to direct the Nigerian government to end what he described as the occupation of the NLC Secretariat in Edo State, restore the congress’s full control of the facility and cease all forms of interference in the affairs of trade unions.
He also called on authorities to respect court decisions on trade union leadership disputes, including matters involving the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), while guaranteeing the safety and protection of labour leaders and members across the country.
In addition, Ajaero demanded independent investigations into alleged acts of anti-union violence and intimidation and called for a clear timeline for labour law reforms to bring Nigeria into full compliance with Convention No. 98.
“The issue before this committee is not merely one of labour relations. It concerns the fundamental right of workers to organise freely, choose their representatives independently and bargain collectively without fear, interference or violence,” he said. “Those rights are guaranteed by Convention No. 98.”
While the Federal Government had not issued a direct response to the NLC’s allegations as of Friday, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, told the conference that the country remains committed to promoting social justice, decent work, fair labour practices and inclusive economic growth in partnership with the ILO. He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights and strengthening democratic institutions.
The NLC’s intervention places Nigeria under renewed international scrutiny at the ILO, with labour leaders seeking stronger oversight and action from the global body to ensure the protection of workers’ rights and trade union freedoms in Africa’s largest economy.
Source: SunNewsOnline | Read the Full Story…
